Japan Earthquake Death Toll Rises to 13 After Mall Collapse

A powerful magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck southwestern Japan on Tuesday afternoon, killing at least 13 people, according to Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. The quake hit the Kumamoto area on Kyushu island, with the death toll rising after the collapse of a recently reopened Aeon Mall. Rescue operations continued Wednesday morning for the missing. Takaichi said there were people still waiting to be rescued and described it as a race against time. An earlier report from Bloomberg put the death toll at at least five, but SCMP later reported 13 fatalities following the mall collapse. The quake is expected to weigh on shares of companies operating in the region, including Aeon and Nippon Paper, according to Bloomberg. Authorities are continuing search and rescue efforts.